Sensitive Dog

Sensitive Dog Julie Forbes and Darcie Boltz guide clients toward clear communication, stable leadership, and a foundation of trust for a thriving human-canine relationship.

Dog Trainers/ Holistic Dog Behaviorists

Julie Forbes (Host: The Dog Talk Show) & Darcie Boltz

Sensitive Dog Offers Private, In Person Training & Coaching Programs, Seattle, WA Established in 2004, Sensitive Dog uses a holistic approach to dog training and behavioral wellness, creating an in-depth and elevated experience for dogs and their families. Sensitive Dog's mind-body-spirit approach is r

efreshing and effective. Their style is professional, passionate, respectful, and sensitive. Clear communication, stable leadership, rule-setting, and boundaries built on self-awareness help clients and their dogs thrive. Sensitive Dog's comprehensive understanding of dog behavior, considering factors such as health, genetics, emotional life, and family dynamics, greatly impacts their approach. They offer private consultation and training for dogs of all ages, with a focus on enhancing your quality of life together. Julie and Darcie are members of NADOI - National Association of Obedience Instructors, IACP - International Association of Canine Professionals, and are ACK Canine Good Citizen Evaluators. For more information about Sensitive Dog, please visit our website.

01/07/2026

✨Every dog is a teacher.✨Luz reminds us that dogs often don’t perceive other dogs passing on the street as potential friends.

And if they were a “street dog,” like Luz was, they can feel threatened by unknown dogs and therefore act defensive.

Luz has had some mixed experiences with other dogs since coming to her new home in Seattle. We were so happy to clarify to her new parents what her behaviors mean and where she is coming from. Luz can probably have doggie friends, but she’s not a dog who wants to meet every dog passing by. A lot of dogs don’t and it’s totally normal and much like we do not want to be friends with everyone we pass on the street.


Levi and Matilda came to the Sensitive Dog studio today and they reminded us of a lot of things! Every Cowdog is a teach...
01/06/2026

Levi and Matilda came to the Sensitive Dog studio today and they reminded us of a lot of things! Every Cowdog is a teacher… 🥰

Levi reminds us that blind dogs can really benefit from a “halo”-type collar to protect their eyes as they navigate the world without sight. Imagine feeling your way through space - with your FACE - and bumping into things. Ouch! We like “Muffin’s Halo” and we’re happy to show Levi’s parents this halo harness that we used with one of our own dogs who was blind (and named Levi!).

Matilda reminds us what a powerful thing it can be for pack dynamics for humans to praise EACH OTHER, when implementing new communication techniques! Dogs notice when humans praise and support each other - so try this out with your own family, spouse, or roommate and feel the difference it makes in the emotional field of the home! DogTrainer DogBehaviorist HolisticDogBehaviorist DogTraining SensitiveDogTraining ObedienceTraining Seattle SeattleDogBehaviorist SeattleDogTraining

01/01/2026

✨What a year!✨We are filled with gratitude for all of the remarkable dogs and humans who shared 2025 with us.❤️Thank you for being part of our community and to the dogs for always bringing the magic.✨Happy New Year!🎉 Looking forward to learning, growing and connecting with you in 2026! Julie Forbes

12/19/2025

✨Every dog is a teacher.✨Chili reminds us that when socializing our dogs, it’s important to be thoughtful about the types of dogs they meet and to be mindful of social behavior. Ask questions, and remember that not everyone understands what appropriate dog-to-dog behavior looks like. When dogs are young especially, experiences can shape their perspective. A scary interaction with another dog can make them edgy when meeting new dogs in the future. 👀🐕Choose your dog’s friends wisely!🐩👀 HolisticDogBehaviorist DogTraining SensitiveDogTraining ObedienceTraining Seattle SeattleDogBehaviorist SeattleDogTraining

12/18/2025

✨Every dog is a teacher!✨Kimchee reminds us that it is important to honor our dogs’ genetics when setting expectations for behavior.
There is definitely variation across individuals, and there are also tendencies and vulnerabilities. When breed specific traits are stronger in an individual, then it is important to consider genetics in the dogs’ process to learn how to be the best version of themselves that they can be! Kimchee is SUPER smart and cunning, like a lot of Shibas. You should have seen how talented he was at scent detection training in his initial session!

12/12/2025

It’s the perfect season to welcome Billie Holiday back to the Sensitive Dog studio! 🎄We met Billie when she was a puppy five years ago, and her Mom came back to us for some fine-tuning and to learn some new things. Billie’s Mom was a client of ours 20 years ago with two other dogs. We LOVE supporting our clients through all life stages of their dogs, and through multiple lifetimes of dogs as the decades pass. Thank you to all of our clients over the years, new and old, for trusting us with your four-legged family members!

12/12/2025

✨Every dog is a teacher.✨Cannoli reminds us that one of the best ways to build dogs’ confidence is to work their mind and teach them new concepts. In this, we can show dogs the magic of communication and how to trust direction and instruction. This little guy was rescued out of a hoarding situation with 17 other dogs and wasn’t interacted with much by humans. He’s skittish, but boy did he bring some good energy to his training session. Great work, Cannoli! We’re so happy for your new life!

12/10/2025

Raise an ear if you’d like to hear what Pretzel and Pearl learned in their initial session at Sensitive Dog! These two picked up “Leave-It,” “Wait” at doorways, and other useful life skills. They remind us that true impulse control is valuable to teach dogs of any age. Not only can it improve their behavior, but it also can strengthen dogs mentally and help them regulate their emotions. Great work, you two! 🙌🏼

12/02/2025

✨Every dog is a teacher.✨ Fritz reminds us that it’s easy to forget when puppies are huge that their brains are still very young. At 8.5 months this young adolescent boy is 93 pounds already! Both Fritz and his Mom came in feeling frustrated and both left their initial session with Julie Forbes feeling relieved. We love bringing ease to the human-dog relationship! And we are so excited to witness this boy & his mom learn and grow in their coaching program at Sensitive Dog.

11/27/2025

This time of year brings so many moving parts—people coming and going, food everywhere, kids running around, new animals visiting, and a whole lot of energy that can feel like too much for many dogs. It’s also the time when we hear from parents after the holiday because something went sideways.

If your dog is sensitive, easily triggered, unsure of new people or places, overwhelmed by children, or reactive around food or visiting animals, the best thing you can do is support them, not push them. Holidays aren’t the moment to stretch a dog’s limits.

During social gatherings, you don’t always have the bandwidth to stay on top of your dog the way you normally do. You’re hosting, talking, cooking, juggling. Other people don’t have the bandwidth either—excitement, noise, alcohol, make judgment slip.

Remember that even people who consider themselves “dog people” don’t always respect your boundaries with your dog. If you suspect that may be the scene at your holiday gathering, be proactive. Set your dog up in separate, safe spaces instead of relying on others. Utilize gates, crates and separate rooms to provide time away.

Give your dog breaks for walks, sniffing, nose work, frozen Kongs or Pupcicles, and mental exercise. And if you’re only able to provide the basics like short walks and potty breaks, that’s ok. A boring day is far better than a bite incident or a full day of practicing behavior & states of mind you don’t want reinforced.

Wishing you and your dogs a peaceful, safe, connected holiday.

This time of year brings so many moving parts—people coming and going, food everywhere, kids running around, new animals...
11/27/2025

This time of year brings so many moving parts—people coming and going, food everywhere, kids running around, new animals visiting, and a whole lot of energy that can feel like too much for many dogs. It’s also the time when we hear from parents after the holiday because something went sideways.

If your dog is sensitive, easily triggered, unsure of new people or places, overwhelmed by children, or reactive around food or visiting animals, the best thing you can do is support them, not push them. Holidays aren’t the moment to stretch a dog’s limits.

During social gatherings, you don’t always have the bandwidth to stay on top of your dog the way you normally do. You’re hosting, talking, cooking, juggling. Other people often don’t have the bandwidth either—excitement, noise, alcohol, make judgment slip.

Remember that even people who consider themselves “dog people” don’t always respect your boundaries with your dog. If you suspect that may be the scene at your holiday gathering, be proactive. Set your dog up in separate, safe spaces instead of relying on others to listen. Utilize gates, crates and separate rooms to provide time away from festivities.

Give your dog breaks for walks, sniffing, nose work, frozen Kongs or Pupcicles, and mental exercise. And if you’re only able to provide the basics like short walks and potty breaks, that’s ok. A boring day for your dog is far better than a bite incident or a full day of practicing behavior & states of mind you don’t want reinforced.

Wishing you and your dogs a peaceful, safe, connected holiday.

11/25/2025

✨Every dog is a teacher.✨
Cosmo reminds us that it’s hard to be sensitive in a noisy world and sometimes triggers can really send a dog into a panicked state. We’re so happy Cosmo and his parents came to Sensitive Dog to start the process of helping him feel more comfortable living in the city!

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3006 S Brandon Street
Seattle, WA
98108

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